The world's first lawn tennis club

Leamington is the very first lawn tennis club, formed in 1872 by Major Henry Gem and Augurio Pereira who had started playing tennis in the garden of Pereira’s house in Edgbaston, Birmingham. It is notable that the Edgbaston Archery Lawn Tennis Club was formed in 1874, probably friends of the two pioneers. Several local moves resulted in the establishment of the existing site in Guys Cliffe Avenue in 1948 when tennis was added to the existing croquet facilities. In 1962 a merger of two local clubs created the Leamington Lawn Tennis and Croquet club which then became the Tennis and Squash club when squash courts were added in 1973. The club now boasts a total of 12 Tennis courts and 5 squash courts. A well equipped gym was also added in 1999.